Dean Corll autospy reports from Harris County Archives

228-831 1

Ext. 671 (Day)
Ext. 212 (Night)

OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
OF HARRIS COUNTY

HARRIS COUNTY COURT HOUSE

HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002

AUTOPSY REPORT
CASE 73 - 3350
August 12, 1973

PATHOLOGICAL DIAGNOSES ON THE BODY

OF

JOSEPH A. JACHIMCZYK, M.D., J.D.

FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST
ATTORNEY AT LAW
CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER

UNKNOWN #12

1. Gunshot wound of head.

2. Asphyxia due to gagging.

OPINION

It is our opinion that the decedent.
Unknown #12, came to his death as a
result of gunshot wound of head, in
association with sexual mutilation
(penectomy and castration) , Homicide.

COMMENT: The identity of this decedent

is undeteremined as of May 9, 1974.

The investigation is continuing on a
day to day basis. This report, there¬
fore, is not final.

(SEE COMPANION CASES 73-3332, 73-3333, 73-3334, 73-3335, 73-3336,
73-3337, 73-3338, 73-3339, 73-3347, 73-3348, 73-3349, 73-3353,

73-3354, 73-3355, 73-3356, 73-3357).

POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION

CASE 73 - 3350

- 2 -

ON THE BODY OF

UNKNOWN #12

HISTORY: This body was one of seventeen bodies or skeletal remains

recovered from Stall #11 at 4500 Silverbell Street, Houston, Texas,
between 6:00 p.m. on August 8, 1973, and 8:00 p.m. on August 9, 1973.
(See Companion Cases 73-3332, 73-3333, 73-3334, 73-3335, 73-3336,
73-3337, 73-3338, 73-3339, 73-3347, 73-3348, 73-3349, 73-3353, 73-3354,
73-3355, 73-3356, 73-3357).

AUTOPSY : The autopsy was performed by Chief Medical Examiner Joseph

A. Jachimczyk, M.D., assisted by Dr. Paul G. Stimson, beginning at
11:30 a.m. on August 12, 1973, in the Harris County Morgue.

EXTERNAL APPEARANCE: The remains were submitted in a plastic sack
and weighed a total of 43 pounds. They consisted of a deteriorating
head with dark hair, measuring up to 5-1/2 inches in length and
mostly bones and some cheesy-like material with very little soft
tissue. There was a strand of parachute-type cord tied about the
back sides of the decomposed hands. A faint outline of the soft
tissues of the right hand were still discernible, although the tis-
sure was like cheese. Similar cord was tied around the tibias. It
appeared that the hands and legs were tied together, posteriorly.

There was a small portion of black plastic material present with the
remains. Over the head, there was a ligature mark depression at the
level of the eyes. There was a terrycloth-type gag in the area of
the mouth with adhesive tape around it. The facial tissues were
not recognizable. There was a braided leather bracelet about the
right wrist, consisting of three strands of leather braided and
formed into a small knot at one end. There were no markings on it.

Elsewhere among the remnants , there was a plastic baggie with a knot
on one end within which there was another plastic baggie in which
there was a decomposing circumcised penis with some attached pubic
hair at one end. The penis measured 10 centimeters in overall
length. Within each of the other baggies, there was a collapsed
testicle, one measuring up to 4-1/2 and the other up to 5 centimeters
in greatest dimension.

The skull had some adherent cheesy unrecognizable soft tissue with
attached hairs and two sunken cheesy eyeballs within the orbits.

The skull was of adult stature, a Caucasian male. The ectocranial
suture lines showed no evidence of fusion. The three segments of
the hyoid bone were present. The tip of the left cornu was blackened.
There was a gunshot hole in the calvarium in the left parietal
bone at a point 5 inches above the left auditory meatus. This
wound opening measured .25 inches in diameter. The bone edges

UNKNOWN #12

CASE 73 - 3350

- 3 -

were beveled inwardly. The wound admitted a probe which communicated
to the 2nd cervical vertebra on the right, where a .22 caliber bullet
was recovered in the 2nd cervical vertebra, just to the right of the
spinal canal and the 2nd cervical vertebra. This was a mushroomed,
partially corroded, .22 caliber bullet which was initialed and placed
in a specimen container for safekeeping. Thus, the bullet traveled
from head to toe, but from left to right at an angle of approximately
15 degrees, and approximately 5 degrees from back to front.

Postmortem X-rays revealed a misshapen bullet in the 2nd cervical
vertebra.

In addition to the skull and mandible and the small amount of soft
tissue and cheesy material in each of the orbits, the following
other bony structures were present: the sternum, the manubrium
and the xiphoid of the sternum, 13 vertebrae (the 5th cervical was
missing) , two clavicles, two scapulae, the epiphyses of which were
fused, 24 ribs, the sacrum, the pelvis which showed stage IV fusion
of all major epiphyses, including the iliac crests. The symphysis
pubis showed some fine bone infiltration of the dorsal portion of
the sympliyseal base. There was a well defined dorsal limiting mar¬
gin. The upper and lower limits were not well defined. All right
wrist bones, all right metacarpals and the proximal phalanx of the
right thumb were present. The right femur measured 44.8 centimeters;
left femur, 45 centimeters; left humerus, 30.6 centimeters; right
humerus, 30.8 centimeters; left tibia, 38.2 centimeters; right tibia,
38.3 centimeters; a right fibula, 37.7 centimeters; the left ulna,
26.8 centimeters; the left radius, 23.6 centimeters. The distal
epiphyses of both clavicles were fused. The medial epiphyses were
not fused. The left clavicle showed evidence of injury and healing
at its distal end. The very marked irregularities of the distal

end suggested that there was a comminuted fracture involving at

least the distal inch or so of the bone.

ESTIMATION OF AGE: The age estimated on the basis of the pubic

symphysis was 22 to 24 years, although it is not inconsistent

with a slightly younger age.

ESTIMATION OF STATURE: The height was estimated from the length
of the femur. The femur had a physiologic height of 45.2 centi¬
meters, calculated on the formula of Trotter and Gleaser. The
height was estimated at 66-1/2 inches. Calculated on the formula
Dupersius and Ilatten, the height was 6 7 inches. The height of the
decedent, therefore, was estimated at 65-1/2 to 67-1/2 inches.

UNKNOWN #12

CASE 73 - 3350

- 4 -

DENTAL EXAMINATION

Universal System Charting: No fillings. Number 1, the upper right
third molar is shaped like a paramolar. There is a diastema present
between the upper right first bicuspid and cuspid, number 5 and 6,
the upper right cuspid and laterals, number 6 and 7, the upper right
and left centrals, 8 and 9, the upper left lateral and cuspid, 10 and
11, and the upper left and first bicuspid, 11 and 12. The upper left
third molar, 1G, is in its crypt. The lower left and lower right
third molars are in their crypts. There are diastemas between the
lower left cuspid and first bicuspid, 22 and 21, and the lower right
cuspid and first bicuspid, 27 and 28. The jaw relationships are nor¬
mal. Tooth 24 and 25 are in distal labial rotation.

Paul G. Stimson, D.D.S.,

M.S

UNKNOWN #12

CASE 73 - 3350

- 5 -

August 22/ 1973:

Repeat X-ray of long bones of lower extremity reveal a tiny radiopaque
fragment at the epiphyseal end of the right lower femur. This was
recovered and preserved.

Autopsy

Decedent: _

Address: -

Case No

UNKNOVJN #12

INVESTIGATOR'S REPORT

73-3350

Investigator: _ Kelly —

_ R ace K Sex _ £l_Age.

UNKNOWN

Death:

Place of Death:

FOUND August 9. 1973

-Approx. Time-

A.M.

"P.M.

UNKNOWN

Place of Inquest: _

Date and Time of Inquest:.

Harris County Morgue and 4500 Silverbell Street. Houston.

Texas

August 9, _ 1373 - p

Location, Position, and Surroundings of Body:

Clothing:

The decedent was nude.

Information:

73-3349:

73-3350:

73-3353:

73-3354:

73-3355:

73-3356:

73-3357:

Unknown #ll-Found in the middle of Stall #11; Head to the west;
at 4:00 p.m.

Unknown #12-Found in the middle of Stall #11; Head to the east;
at 4:00 p.m.

Unknown #13-Found in the middle of Stall #11 and next to the front
door; Head to the north; at approximately 6:00 p.m.

Unknown #14-Found in the middle of Stall #11 and next to the front
door; Head to the south; at approximately 6:00 p.m.

Unknown #15-Found north end of Stall #11; Head to the east next to
east side of Stall #11; at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Unknown #16-Found six feet from center of north door; Head to the
east; at approximately 8:00 p.m.

Unknown #17-Found six feet from center of north door beside
Unknown #16; Head to east; at approximately 8:00 p.m.

(SEE COMPANION CASES: 73-3332, 73-3333, 73-3334, 73-3335, 73-3336, 73-3337,
73-3338, 73-3339, 73-3347, 73-3348, 73-3349, 73-3353, 73-3354, 73-3355,
73-3356, 73-3357)

Property:

There was no property involved.

Transferred to Morgue by iam n. Posey Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., Galena. Park, Texas

Bob Lee Funeral Home, Houston, Texas and Brookwood Funeral
Funeral Home Conducting Service: Home, Houston, Texas

JOSEPH A. JACHIMCZYK. M.D.. J.D.

FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST
ATTORNEY AT LAW
CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER

OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER OF HARRIS COUNTY
JOSEPH A. JACHIMCZYK FORENSIC CENTER
1 885 OLD SPANISH TRAIL
HOUSTON. TEXAS 77054

SUPPLEMENTAL AND FINAL AUTOPSY REPORT
Case 73 - 3350
August 12, 1973

PATHOLOGICAL DIAGNOSES ON THE BODY

OF

UNKNOWN #12

Willard Karmon Branch, Jr. (7-3-85)

1. Gunshot wound of head.

2. Asphyxia due to gagging.

3. Old fracture of the skull.

4. Old healed injury of left
clavicle.

OPINION

It is our opinion that the decedent,
Unknown #12, came to his death as a
result of a gunshot wound of the
head, Homicide.

COMMENT

The presumptive identification is
based upon 14 points of similarity
and singularity.

J/^sepiy A. 'jachi

Chief Medical Examiner

(See Companion Cases 73-3332, 73-3333, 73-3334,

73-3337, 73-3338, 73-3339, 73-3347, 73-3348,

73-3354, 73-3355, 73-3356, 73-3357).

73-3335,

73-3349,

73-3336,

73-3353,

-2-

SUPPLEMENTAL AND FINAL REPORT (7-3-1985)
Case 73 - 3350

Unknown #12 - August 12, 1973
UNIDENTIFIED BODY ANTHROPOMETRY CHART
Willard Karmon Branch, Jr.

PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTE OF REMAINS

AGE: 22 to 24, but perhaps younger

SEX: Male

RACE: Caucasian

HAIR: Dark brown

HEIGHT: 5' 5V' to 5'7V'

Skull fracture, linear, right
parietal

Bone cyst, capitate, right
wrist

Large central incisors

Diastemas between teeth #9,

#10, #11

Left lateral incisor
smaller than right

No dental caries; no fillings,
no extractions

Healed injury to left clavicle

Tiny pellet recovered at lower
end of right femur

Body recovered August 9, 1973

SUPPORTING INDICATOR

AGE: 18 at disappearance
Date of birth 7-2-1954

SEX: Male

RACE: Caucasian

HAIR: Dark brown (Susan

McLemore selected #12)

HEIGHT: 5' 5" to 5 '6"

Skull fracture, linear, right
parietal

Bone cyst, capitate, right
wrist

Large central incisors

Diastemas between teeth #9,

#10, #11

Left lateral incisor
smaller- than right

At age 15 family dentist stated
excellent dental health; no work
required; noted diastemas

Injured shoulder as a youngster

Shot by B.B. inside corner right
eye at age 4; pellet was migratory
in face

Last seen November, 1972

Case 73 - 3350
-3-

POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION ON THE BODY OF

UNKNOWN #12

HISTORY:

remains

Houston,

p .m. , on

73-3334,

73-3348,

This body was one of seventeen bodies or skeletal
recovered from Stall #11 at 4500 Silverbell Street,
Texas, between 6:00 p.m., on August 8, 1973, and 8:00
August 9, 1973. (See Companion Cases 73-3332, 73-3333,

73-3335, 73-3336, 73-3337, 73-3338, 73-3339, 73-3347,

73-3349, 73-3353, 73-3354, 73-3355, 73-3356, 73-3357).

AUTOPSY: The autopsy was performed by Chief Medical Examiner
Joseph A. Jachimczyk, M.D., assisted by Paul Stimson, D.D.S.,
M.S., beginning at 11:30 a.m., on August 12, 1973, in the Harris

County Morgue.

EXTERNAL APPEARANCE: The remains were submitted in a plastic sack
and ‘ weighed a total of 43 pounds. They consisted of a

deteriorating head with dark hair, measuring up to 5 1/2 inches m
length and mostly bones and some cheesy-like material with very
little soft tissue. There was a strand of parachute- type ^cord
tied about the back sides of the decomposed wrists. A faint

outline of the soft tissues of the right hand were stlll

discernible, although the tissue was like cheese. Similar cord
was tied around the tibias. It appeared that the wrists and legs
were tied together, posteriorly. There was a small portion or
black plastic material present with the remains. Over the head,
there was a ligature mark depression at the level of the eyes.
There was a ter rycloth-type gag in the area of the mouth with
adhesive tape around it. The facial tissues were not

recognizable. There was a braided leather bracelet around the
right wrist, consisting of three strands of leather braided and
formed into a small knot at one end. There were no markings on

it.

Elsewhere among the remnants, there was a plastic baggie wit a
knot on one end within which there was another plastic baggie in
which there was a decomposing circumcised penis with some attached
pubic hair at one end. The penis measured 10 centimeters in
overall length. Within each of the other baggies, there was a
collapsed testicle, one measuring up to 4-1/2 and the other up to
5 centimeters in greatest dimension. (It is likely these anatomic
specimens do not belong to this body).

The skull had some adherent cheesy unrecognizable soft tissue with
attached hairs and two sunken cheesy eyeballs within the orbits.
The skull was of adult stature, a Caucasian male. The ectocranial
suture lines showed no evidence of fusion. The three segments o
the hyoid bone were present. The tip of the left cornu was

UNKNOWN #12

Case 73 - 3350

-4-

biackened. There was a gunshot hole in the calvarium in the left
parietal bone at a point 5 inches above the left auditory meatus.
This wound opening measured .25 inches in diameter. The bone
edges were beveled inwardly. The wound admitted a probe which
communicated to the 2nd cervical vertebra on the right, where a
.22 caliber bullet was recovered in the 2nd cervical vertebra,
just to the right of the spinal canal and the 2nd cervical
vertebra. This was a mushroomed, partially corroded, .22 caliber
bullet which was initialed and placed in a specimen container for
safekeeping. Thus, the bullet traveled from head to toe, but from
left to right at an angle of approximately 15 degrees, and
approximately 5 degrees from back to front.

There was a linear, non-depressed fracture, beginning about 2-1/4
inches below the top of the head in the coronal suture extending
down the parietal bone for approximately 2-1/2 inches to a point
on the superior margin of tne temporal bone on the right.

Postmortem X-rays revealed a misshapen bullet in the 2nd cervical
vertebra. The X-ray of the right upper extremity revealed a cyst
in the capitate member of the carpal bone s.

In addition to the skull and mandible and the small amounts of
soft tissue and cheesy material in each of the orbits, the
following other bony structures were present: The sternum, the
manubrium and the xiphoid of the sternum, 13 vertebrae (the 5th
cervical was missing), two clavicles, two scapulae, the epiphyses
of which were fused, 24 ribs, the sacrum, the pelvis which showed
state IV fusion of all major epiphyses, including the iliac
crests. The symphysis pubis showed some fine bone infiltration of
the dorsal portion of the symphyseal base. There was a well
defined dorsal limiting margin. The upper and lower limits were
not well defined. All right wrist bones, all right metacarpals
and the proximal phalanx of the right thumb were present. The
right femur measured 44.8 centimeters; left femur, 45 centimeters;
left humerus, 30.6 centimeters; right humerus, 30.8 centimeters;
left tibia, 38.2 centimeters; right tibia, 38.3 centimeters, a
right fibula, 37.7 centimeters; the left ulna, 26.8 centimeters,
the left radius, 23.6 centimeters. The distal epiphyses of both
clavicles were fused. The medial epiphyses were not fused. The
left clavicle showed evidence of injury and healing at its distal
end. The very marked irregularities of the distal end suggested
that there was a comminuted fracture involving at least the distal
inch or so of the bone.

ESTIMATION OF AGE: The age estimated on the basis of the pubic
symphysis was 22 to 24 years, although it is not inconsistent with
a slightly younger age.

UNKNOWN #12

Case 73 - 3350
-5-

ESTIMATION OF STATURE: The height was estimated from the length

of the femur. The femur had a physiologic height of 45.2
centimeters, calculated on the formula of Trotter and Gleaser.
The height was estimated at 66-1/2 inches. Calculated on the
formula Dupersius and Hatten, the height was 67 inches. The
height of the decedent, therefore, was estimated at 65-1/2 to
67-1/2 inches.

August 22, 1973: Repeat X-ray of long bones of lower extremity

reveal a tiny radiopaque fragment at the epiphyseal end of the
right lower femur. This was recovered and preserved.

UNKNOWN

Case 73 - 3350
-6-

DENTAL EXAMINATION

Universal System Charting: No fillings. Number 1, the upper

right third molar is shaped like a paramolar. There is a diastema

present between the upper right first bicuspid and cuspid, numbers
5 and 6, the upper right cuspid and laterals, numbers 6 and 7, the
upper right and left centrals, 8 and 9, the upper left lateral and
cuspids, 10 and 11, and the upper left cuspid and first bicuspid,
11 and 12. The upper left third molar, 16, in in its crypt. The
lower left and lower right third molars are in their crypts.
There are diastemas between the lower left cuspid and first

bicuspid, 22 and 21, and the lower right cuspid and first

bicuspid, 27 and 28. The jaw relationships are normal. Teeth 24
and 25 are in distal labial rotation.

July 3, 1985

Joseph A. Jachimczyk, M.D., J.D.

Chief Medical Examiner of Harris County
1885 Old Spanish Trail
Houston, Texas

RE: Willard Karmon Branch, Jr.

Dear Dr. Jachimczyk:

On March 10, 1982, I first contacted your office in reference to
my brother, above captioned, expressing the thought that he might
be among those remaining unidentified of the "1973 Mass Murders".
Since that time, in cooperation with your office, and in
compliance with your request, I have furnished documents, pictures
and personal information for use in comparisons of known
similarities of my brother and of any unidentified remains of the
"Mass Murder Victims".

I have been informed that a significant number of singularities
and similarities exist between the remains of Medical Legal Number
73-3350 and the known physical, medical and personal histories of
my brother. I realize that this is a presumptive identification.
I accept and claim Medical Legal number 73-3350 as my brother,
Willard Karmon Branch, Jr.

Sincerely ,

EXHIBIT m /

BODY #

ML#

EST. HT.

RES. WT.

EST. AGE

FOUND

DATE

CAUSE OF DEATH

11

73-3349

69" -71 1/2"

44#

18-20

Shed

08/09/73

GSW of head

15

73-3355

70"-72 1/2"

56#

20-21

Shed

08/09/73

Strangulation

16

73-3356

63 "-65"

?

18

Shed

08/09/73

Strangulation

22

73-3378

68"

75#

9

Sam

DrPruitt

Strangulation

Rayburn

NOTE: Height estimate is +/- 2"

/iu;upsy

• <*i i — » t » w>/-i i uk j r\i.r v^rvi

Investigator:

L.

ive.iv

Case No _ 73—3350 _

Decent: _ UNKHO'.TN #12 _ _ Race_Li_Sex

Address: _ UNKNOWN _

Death: - FOUND ’August 9, 1973 _ : _ Approx. Time _

Place of Death: - UHIuIOUN _ _ _

Place of Inquest: _ Harris County Morgue and 4500 Silverbell Street,

Date and Time of Ingupsr: August: 9f 19 73 _ _ _

Location, Position, and Surroundings of Body:

— Age.

A.M.

'P.M.

Iloustcr. ,

Texas

A.M.

P.M.

Clothing:

The decedent was nude.

Information:

73-3349

73-3350

73-3353

73-3354

73-3355

73-3356

73-3357

Unknown #ll-Found in the middle of Stall #11; Head to the west;
at 4:00 p.m.

Unknown #12-Found in the middle of Stall #11; Head to the east;
at 4:00 p.m.

Unknown #13-Found in the middle of Stall #11 and next to the fron
door; Head to the north; at approximately 6:00 p.m.

Unknown #14-Found in the middle of Stall #11 and next to the fron
door; Head to the south; at approximately 6:00 p.m.

Unknown #15-Found north end of Stall #11; Head to the east next t<
east side of Stall #11; at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Unknown #16-Found six feet from center of north door; Head to the
east; at approximately S:00 p.m.

Unknown #17-Found six feet from center of north door beside
Unknown #16; Head to east; at approximately 8:00 p.m.

V,

/

/ /
A

:JL

L. c. Kelly

' A/Ai

(SEE COMPANION CASES: 73-3332, 73-3333, 73-3334, 73-3335, 73-3336, 73-3337
73-3338, 73-3339, 73-3347, 73-3348, 73-3349, 73-3353, 73-3354, 73-3355,
73-3356, 73-3357)

Property:

There was no property involved.

Transferred to Morgue by:vjilliam II. Posey Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., Galena. Park, Te

, „ _ , Bob Lee Funeral Home, Houston, Texas and Brookwood Funeral

Funeral Home Conducting Service: Home, Houston, Texas

Unr\ k ff !~2-

RECORO OF IDENTIFICATION PROCESSING

SKELETAL CHART >4 L - 1 3 -

GRADE

SERVICE NUMBER

NAME OF CEMETERY, EVACUATION NUMBER, OR SEARCH ANO
RECOVERY NUMBER

PLOT

ROW

ESTIMATED AGE (Yeere)

2ZL- 1A

GRAVE

ESTIMATED HEIGHT
Co */i - L'l 4/t

SKELETAL MEASUREMENTS (Centimeter*)

SKELETAL MEMBER

method

RIGHT

LEFT j

SKULL

HUMERUS

ULNA

RADIUS

FEMUR

TIBIA

FIBULA

REMARKS OR STATEMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGIST fContinue on re¬

vere* if more eps ce is required) j

tt

THE PARTS PRESENT AS INDICATED ON THIS SKELETAL CHART
REPRESENTS ONE AND THE SAME INDIVIDUAL

PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGIST (Nome)

SIGNATURE

pK MISSING
%£ BURNED

' FEB 3ti ^ REPLACES CMC FORM 1044, 1ft MAR 47. WHICH IS OBSOLETE.

CC2HC
oc o tf

« • 0 0

0pG{ ?f? X /

0 0o7 FRACTURED
0 ® c>u 5HATTEPED^^

<JI'h. !•.»«;*» o -a i:i.7>:t/:n;7

DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY

'TATE OF OHIO

HP-24C

Rev. 8/70

STATE HIGHWAY PATROL

DENTAL CHART

Fill out all information in PENCIL

Assigned identification number - Division Case Number

Autopsy number _ Picture Pouch Number

Armed Forces Serial Number _ _ _ _ _ Date of Exam.

Social Security Number _ _ - — — Place of Exam.

IDENTIFICATION STATUS (CIRCLE ONE)

UNIDENTIFIED AT PRESENT TIME, PRESUMPTIVE BY EXCLUSION, HIGHLY PROBABLE, POSITIVE

'Name of Person Identitied _ Age _ Race _ Sex _

The above block is to De completed alter all I.D. Procedures are exhausted.

CONFIRMED IDENTIFICATION OF BODY BY - - -

Name of Examiner

Confirasd i den t i f i cat i cn by Beans of (circle) X-ray comparison. Clinical conformation by previous dental

records. Other - — - - - - - — -

X— rays tekan (circle one) None, Complete Mouth, Bite Wings, Other. - -

Phctograoha taker (circle one) None, Color, Black & White, Other . - —

Name, Adsress, an c Te'eobcne Nuaber of Photographer

Location of the cccy

Position of the eccy

BEFORE PROCEEDING — READ PAGE 2 CAREFULLY AND FOLLOW ALL
INSTRUCTIONS — HAVE A QUALIFIED ASSISTANT TO DO ALL RECORDING
RECORD ALL INFORMATION IN PENCIL

Name ,

Address, and Telephone

Number

of

the

Exam i ner

Name ,

Address, and Telephone

Numbe r

of

the

Ass i s tent

Signature of the examiner

Signature of the Assistant

© . . . a ^ * v

P*P« 3 of 4

MARK all existing restorations and missing teeth on this chart

Describe completely ell Frosthetic Appliances or

Estimated Age _

Sex _

Race _

Circle descriptive term

Prosthetic Appliances
Present - Maxilla

Fu 1 1 Denture

Partial Denture
Fixed Bridge

Prosthetic Appliances
Present - Mandible

Full Denture

Partial Denture
Fixed Bridge

Fixed

Br i d ;es

Stains on
teeth

SI i g h t

Moderate

Severe

Circle descriptive term
Jaw Re 1 at i onsh i p

Periodontal condition
Excel 1 en t
Ave rage
Poor

Gross Neglect
Calculus
'* -Slight

v/' ~ Moderate

Severe

April 17, 1961

8® leu Q> SadSce, M. D.

5900 I^jot

flC*ISfcCC, TSKK' -

*e: WilJnrd X. 3 ranch
9o? i:*aci*li

jfcAMstor., Texan

Dear It. B&dtiou:

T«tr eourfc®ai»« in alioving a» to see and aaciwiaa this vary nic« child with

yot In Manorial 5oepiinl *rs grei afciy appreciated.

5S»* 'iiistary «n I obtained it frm tbs parent* «i lisa tins of ay sacaedatticei
on April 18 is osesnUtUy that vhlefc hsv» ton previously *»i*ted to you.

®* assurclogianl MUBri nation revealed to cranial tm^vs to b« within nora*l
limits. titlin’ a neck via «*pnla; the carotid jultea vara ruuml and equal

on to two aidae, to tore vn*t no inraaevauial teuit. tors «u availing, die-
rsolwmtion, and ^ecdamesa over tbs right parietal region of the ecalp. B»

cento refloat** vara ptoytioJjogioal. I was wot a&La to danuatrata any actor
vaahneaa ox caasoxy deficit in any of Ma links.

X-rays of to atoll shaved 1 3 inch linear fracture without dlssJL&ceteant, extend,
iag downwards from to parietal *a#Uc on to ritfrt.

X to hscgltai on eoaaarvafcivt muMtsmuut, this child improved rapiday and *as
distorted after 3 cays- X kr»jw ha will rvtum to peer office for TO^ora^inA Uou

In about 10 days to that hit clinical eoutrs* can ha followed.

Toora vary truly.

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THOMAS H. McGGIRE, M.D., P.A.

1213 HERMANN DRIVE SUITE 640
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77004

o 'S>Zf>o^ct4 ^

73 -J2.

Mr. Cecil Mingo, Chief Medical Examiner
Harris County Medical Office
1502 Outer Bslt
Houston, Tx 77036

A-

L-

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY

July 3, 1985 Case 73 - 3350 Investigator Cecil Wingo

Willard Karmon Branch, Jr., date of birth, July 2, 1954, Unknown
number 12. Mother is Mrs. Bonnie Clark, P.O. Box 448, Beckville,
Texas 75631. Sister i s Susan McLemore.

The remains of Medical Legal Case Number 73-3350 are presumptively
identified as being those of Willard Karmon Branch, Jr. This
identification is based upon both singularities and similarities
that have been determined by careful comparison of known
anatomical attributes of the remains of Medical Legal Number
73-3350 and known anatomical attributes of Willard Karmon Branch,
Jr.

Willard Karmon Branch, Jr., was last seen in November, 1972, in
Mt. Pleasant, Texas, by his aunt, whom he was visiting, when she
took both Branch and an unidentified white male from her home to
the highway in order that they might hitchhike to Houston.
According to a report filed by Branch's father, Willard Karmon
Branch, Sr., (deceased 3-3-80), Branch was 5' 5" to 5' 6" tall and
weighed approximately 130 pounds. His hair was dark brown. In
addition, the report stated that Branch had been a patient of Dr.

H. Beddoe and Dr. T. H. McGuire at Memorial Hospital, where he was
treated for a fractured skull. The year of the injury was 1961.

Subsequently and on March 10, 1982, Branch's sister, Susan

McLemore, contacted this office in reference to her brother. In
this interim of the initial contact and to this date, Susan
McLemore has assisted this office by locating some medical records
and by providing photographs and a personal history of Branch.

The evidentiary items obtained relative to Branch included an
X-ray of the left hand and an X-ray of the right hand, a copy of a
letter dated April 17, 1961, addressed to Helen G. Beddoe, M.D.,
from Thomas H. McGuire, M.D., with the caption, RE: Willard K.
Branch, 807 Paschall, Houston, Texas. The letter contained the
following paragraph; "X-rays of the skull showed a 3 inch linear
fracture without displacement, extending downwards from the
parietal region on the right", and a facial photograph of Branch
at about 12 or 13. This photograph was important because it
would allow for a comparison of the upper front dentition of
Branch with dentition of Case 73-3350.

Information of narrative character indicated that Branch had
"Fairly high cheek bones, two upper front teeth were larger, upper
left medial incisor sharp and smaller than other." It was also
said that Branch had suffered an injury to a shoulder as a
youngster .

s

-2-

On September 14, 1983, Susan McLemore was shown two boards on
which were mounted 23 locks of hair from the companion cases to

73-3350. All but 8 locks of hair were eliminated because of

obvious dissimilarities. The locks examined were numbers 12, 18,

19, 20, 21, 23, 24 and 25. Locks numbers 18, 19, 20, 21 and 28

were determined by McLemore to be too light in color, number 24

was too curly. Numbers 12 and 25 were similar. McLemore elected
number 12 as the first choice and number 25 as the second choice.
Number 25 belonged to an individual previously identified as
Johnny Ray Delone, Number 12 is the lock from this case, #73-3350.

The remains of 73-3350 were found in Stall #11 at 4500 Silverbell,
Houston, Texas, between 6:00 p.m., on August 8, 1973, and 8:00

p.m., on August 9, 1973. These skeletal remains were found along
with the remains of sixteen other bodies. Those medical legal
numbers are referred to in the autopsy report. Characteristics

with potential for use in identification excerpted from the
autopsy report: "dark hair, measuring up to 5-1/2 inches in
length...., the left clavicle showed evidence of injury and

healing at its distal end...., the age estimated on the basis of
the pubis symphysis was 22 to 24 years, although it is not
inconsistent with a slightly younger age..., the height of the
decedent was estimated at 65-1/2 to 67-1/2 inches." Excerpted

from the report of the dental examination is the sentence "There

is a diastema present between. .. .the upper left lateral and
cuspid, 10 and 11, and the upper left cuspid and first bicuspid,
11 and 12." Excerpted from the autopsy report "There was a
linear, non-depressed fracture, beginning about 2-1/4 inches below
the top of the head in the coronal suture extending down the
parietal for approximately 2-1/2 inches to a point on the superior
margin of the right temporal bone."

X-rays were made of the skeletal remains upon receipt. The

remains were incomplete but that which was not recovered

represented only some of the small bones of the hands and feet and

vertebrae. Included in the remains of the right extremity were

the carpals of the right hand.

Identifiers of singular character used in determination were:

1. Skull

2. X-rays of right upper extremity, both from 73-3350

3. X-ray of the right hand of Willard Karmon Branch, Jr

4. Letter from Dr. McGuire to Dr. Beddoe in which a skull
fracture of the head of Branch was described.

5. Clavicle injury described in the autopsy report.

6. Familial recall of a shoulder injured stated by Susan
McLemore

7. Familial recall of outstanding dental characteristics of
Branch

8. Dental charting and photographs of the teeth of 73-3350

9. Photograph of Branch taken at age 12 or 13

s

-3-

The skull fracture described in the autopsy report of 73-3350 is
very clearly described in the letter from Dr. McGuire to Dr.
Beddoe dated April 17, 1961.

A bone cyst was found to exist in the capitate member of the
carpal bones of the right upper extremity when this X-ray of
73-3350 was examined. This same bone cyst is present in the X-ray
of the right hand of Branch.

Susan McLemore recalled that her brother had suffered a shoulder
injury. The autopsy report of 73-3350 described a healed injury
to the left clavicle.

Family members described Branch as having large upper central
incisors and a lateral incisor on the left which was smaller than
the other. The photograph of Branch demonstrates this description
in addition to displaying diastemas in the upper arch.
Examination of the upper dental arch of 73-3350 clearly supports
the size relationships of the teeth and the diastemas. The teeth
visible in the photographs are numbers (Universal Chart) 7, 8, 9
and 10. The upper dental arch of 73-3350 demonstrates the
diastemas present between the left central incisor, number 9 and
the left lateral, number 10, and the left lateral, number 10, and
the cuspid, number 11.

Identifiers of similar character used in determinations were:

1. Known age, race, height, weight, sec and hair color of Willard
Karmon Branch, Jr.

2. Findings of autopsy of age, race, height, sex and hair color.

3. The selection of hair specimen by Susan McLemore.

The known personal characteristics of Branch at time of
disappearance were as follows: age 18, height 5' 5" to 5' 6",
weight 130 pounds, race white, sex male, hair color dark brown.
The estimates at autopsy report of 73-3350 of these same
characteristics were: age 22 to 24, but not inconsistent with a
slightly younger age, height 5'5y to 5' 7V', weight was not
estimated, the race was Caucasian, the sex was male.

According to McLemore, Willard Karmon Branch, Jr., was shot in the
inside corner of the right eye with a B.B. gun. The pellet
penetrated and remained in the tissue. Branch's age at that time
was 4 years. The pellet was watched carefully because it
subsequently migrated downward into the cheek.

The family dentist evaluated Branch at age 15 and found his
dentistry to be excellent and required no work. He noted the
diastemas.

Date:

Time: .

-^2

Investigators Report

Continuation/Supplement

Case No. 7 3- ^j5>

Investigator

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